Waterboard strut system

ABSTRACT

A waterboard strut is provided. The waterboard may include a body, a nose, a tail, a deck surface a bottom surface, and at least one fin attached to and protruding from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the at least one fin is positioned near the tail of the body, and at least one strut attached to and protruding from the bottom surface of the body. The strut may be positioned near the nose of the body and releasably connected. A user may ride the deck surface with the bottom surface mostly submerged in the water and as the waterboard may be in motion over or through the water, the waterboard strut may prevent the waterboard from sliding sideways enabling directional stability and control, reducing drift, improving tracking, and converting sideways forces into forward motion. The waterboard strut may be releasably connected to the bottom surface near the nose of the waterboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to waterboard accessories and, moreparticularly, to a waterboard strut that increases directional stabilityand converts sideways forces into forward motion.

Currently, surfboards, sailboards, knee boards, body boards,paddleboards and the like (hereafter referred to as waterboards)typically include an upwardly curving nose raised above water level, yetinclude all fins near the tail of the waterboard. As a result, underwindy and choppy water conditions the raised nose may plane across thewater, making it difficult for the user to navigate and stay on thedesired course as well as subjecting the user to muscle fatigue, longertravel times and frustration.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device and system for a waterboardthat converts sideways forces created by wind, choppy water and othercauses of drift into forward motion. There is also a need for a deviceand system that increases directional stability and control, reducesdrift and improves tracking so that user fatigue, travel times andfrustration decrease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a waterboard strut may include abody having a nose, a tail, a deck surface, a bottom surface, at leastone fin attached to and protruding from the bottom surface of the body,wherein at least one fin is positioned near the tail of the body, and atleast one strut attached to and protruding from the bottom surface ofthe body and positioned near the nose of the body, whereby thewaterboard strut converts sideways forces that the waterboard may besubject to into forward motion

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of convertingsideways forces that a waterboard is subject to into forward motion mayinclude providing the waterboard having a bottom surface, a decksurface, a nose and an upward curving rocker; providing a strutconnected to and protruding from the bottom surface; providing a body ofwater; and riding on the deck surface as the bottom surface is movingover or through the body of water, whereby the strut converts sidewaysforces the waterboard is subject to into forward motion.

A waterboard strut to a waterboard comprises: providing the waterboardhaving a bottom surface, a nose and an upward curvature; providing abody of water; and connecting the waterboard strut releasably to thewaterboard, whereby the waterboard strut converts sideways forces thewaterboard is subject to into forward motion when the bottom surface ismoving over or through the water.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a waterboardstrut. The waterboard strut may include a waterboard having a decksurface, a bottom surface, a tail, and a nose. The waterboard may bereleasably connected to the bottom surface of the waterboard usingstandard tools. Then in the water, the user may ride the deck surfacewith the bottom surface mostly submerged in the water. As the waterboardmay be in motion over or through the water, the waterboard strut mayprevent the waterboard from sliding sideways enabling directionalstability and control, reducing drift, improving tracking, andconverting sideways forces into forward motion. When done riding, theuser may remove the waterboard strut for ease of transporting andstoring the waterboard.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include waterboardstruts of different material, size and/or shape to account for theuser's skill set, riding characteristics of the waterboard andenvironmental conditions.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may include awaterboard strut 100 attached to a waterboard 10. In certainembodiments, the strut 100 may be releasably attachable to thewaterboard 10. The waterboard 10 may include a deck surface 20, a bottomsurface 30, a tail 40, a nose 50, rocker 52, a tip 54, a body 56 and atleast one fin 60. The deck surface 20 may be the topside of thewaterboard 10 where the user stands or lays. The bottom surface 30 maybe the surface that primarily contacts the water 70. The tail 40 and thenose 50 may be the back and front of the waterboard 10, respectively.The nose 50 may include an upward curvature known as the rocker 52 sothat the tip 54 is above the water. The at least one fin 60 may beattached to the bottom surface 30 near the tail 40.

The waterboard strut 100 may vertically stabilize the waterboard 10 bypreventing it from sliding sideways while the board is in motion over orthrough the water, much like a keel, enabling directional stability andcontrol, reducing drift, improving tracking and dampening rollingmotions. The waterboard strut 100 may convert sideways forces intoforward motion.

As mentioned above, the waterboard strut 100 may be releasably connectedto the bottom surface 30 so that the waterboard 10 may be used forsurfing when not employing the waterboard strut 100. In certainembodiments, the waterboard strut 100 may be permanently connected tothe bottom surface 30. In an alternate embodiment, the waterboard strut100 may be permanently connected to the waterboard 10 when manufacturingthe underlying waterboard 10. In certain embodiments, the waterboardstrut 100 may be connected to the bottom surface 30 by a fin box thatmay include an elongate receiving portion having a length sufficient toinsert the waterboard strut 100 into the receiving portion substantiallylaterally. The fin box may house the waterboard strut 100 when not inuse.

The waterboard strut 100 may be made of material suitable fordirectional stability and control, reducing drift, improving trackingand converting sideways forces into forward motion.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. Thewaterboard strut 100 disclosed above may be provided. While on dry land,a user may releasably connect the waterboard strut 100 to the bottomsurface 30 of a waterboard 10 with standard tools, such as an Allenwrench, flat blade screwdriver, and the like. Then in the water, theuser may ride the deck surface 20 with the bottom surface 30 mostlysubmerged in the water. In certain embodiments, the user may connect thewaterboard strut 100 near the nose 50. In an alternate embodiment, thelocation of the waterboard strut 10 may be almost precisely determinedby the rocker 54 to nose distance 50.

In certain embodiments, the user may select from a plurality ofwaterboard struts 100 of different materials, sizes and shapes toaccount for the user's skill set, the waterboard 10 ridingcharacteristics, such as all arounder, surf standup, and the like, andenvironmental conditions, such as shallow water, water with a largeamount of weeds, and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A waterboard comprising: a body comprising a nose, a tail, a decksurface and a bottom surface; at least one fin attached to andprotruding from the bottom surface of the body, wherein the at least onefin is positioned near the tail of the body; and at least one strutattached to and protruding from the bottom surface of the body, whereinthe at least one strut is positioned near the nose of the body.
 2. Awaterboard of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the nose comprisesan upwardly curving rocker.
 3. A waterboard of claim 1, wherein the atleast one fin is a plurality of fins.
 4. A waterboard of claim 1,wherein the strut is releasably connected to the bottom surface of thebody.
 5. A method of converting sideways forces that a waterboard issubject to into forward motion comprising: providing the waterboardhaving a bottom surface, a deck surface, a nose and an upward curvingrocker; providing a strut connected to and protruding from the bottomsurface; providing a body of water; and riding on the deck surface asthe bottom surface is moving over or through the body of water, wherebythe strut converts sideways forces the waterboard is subject to intoforward motion.
 6. A method of claim 5 wherein the strut is connectednear the nose at a predetermined distance between the nose and therocker.
 7. A method of providing directional stability to a waterboardcomprising: providing the waterboard having a bottom surface, a decksurface, a nose and an upward curving rocker; providing a strutconnected to and protruding from the bottom surface; providing a body ofwater; and riding on the deck surface as the bottom surface is movingover or through the body of water, whereby the strut providesdirectional stability.
 8. A method of claim 7 wherein the strut isconnected near the nose at a predetermined distance between the nose andthe rocker.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)